Northern Thailand & Full Moon

Bangkok baby, your adventure begins! You've made it into the hustle and bustle of city life! We'll meet you at the airport before taking you to our hotel. Sit back, relax, you're here. You'll have the first day to settle in and relax, meet your TruFam, and go explore the local area, whatever ya fancy. In the evening, it's time for our welcome dinner at one of our favourite restaurants on the one & only Khao San Road! Get to know your fellow travellers over a bucket or two. Start as you mean to go on, right?

So you know the film Bridge Over River Kwai? Been there done that! We're taking you there! Before we head off to the river, we're off to do some shopping and not at just any old regular market, but a FLOATING one! Crazy right? We're shopping via long-tail boat. Grab a snack off a local vendor, or grab a cold one. Next, we're off to Kanchanaburi! When we have arrived, we get another boat and cruise down the River Kwai enjoying the sight of the bridge (an insta worthy moment fo' sho'). It's sunset o'clock and what a better place to watch the sunset than the bridge over River Kwai! Get those poses ready for all the 10/10 shots you're going to get. You're welcome.

Imagine, a 7 tier, crystal clear blue waterfall surrounded by lush greenery, sounds unreal right! Erawan falls, just an hour away from Kanchanaburi is pretty much paradise. Something you would expect to see on a national geographic, but we're here, baby! We know TLC said don't go chasing waterfalls but ya know, I think we can be excused this once. Make sure you have your swimmers as you'll want to take a dip. Don't say we don't spoil ya! We'll have some lunch at the waterfalls, gotta stay hydrated and energised from all that walking & swimming! Then we head back to Kanchanaburi, where you can either chill by the pool or explore the town before we meet for dinner and drinks! Buckets, anyone?

Today you have the morning free before we hit the road again! So choose to spend this morning how you please, whether that's by the pool or exploring the town. Next, we are off to Ayutthaya, an ancient capital city, if you're looking to see culture & history, then you're in the right place! We'll hop on some bikes and cycle around the world heritage site, 10/10 views, we'll also learn about the fascinating history of Ayutthaya and of course, the kingdom of Siam which is what Thailand used to be called (fun fact for ya!). Time to grab a bite to eat and then it's all aboard the night train to Chiang Mai! The train is comfortable, you get your own bed with pillows and covers, comfort is key! So it shouldn't be too hard to get a decent night sleep ready to take on a new place in the morning! Chiang Mai, we're coming for you.

We check into our guesthouse which is ideally situated between the old & new areas of Chiang Mai (winning), you'll have some time to relax by the pool or do some exploring and check out the oldest temple in Chiang Mai which is right opposite our accommodation (winning x2!). Now it's time to visit the most famous and possibly the most beautiful temple in Chiang Mai, Wat Pra Maha Doi Sutthep. The views are incredible, situated high up on the mountain, you'll get a panoramic view of the city. Trust, you'll feel on top of the world, literally. Once you've taken your snaps of the insane views and got some for the gram (it's gotta be done), you have the afternoon free to do whatever you would like, before we meet later on in time for dinner!

Did someone say TruExclusive? Hell yeah, we did! You won't find this experience anywhere else. If you're looking for an authentic Thai experience, THIS IS IT. We are off to do one of the most popular activities in Northern Thailand, a trek through the jungle. The trek doesn't require a high level of fitness, but it is a bit of a challenge SO beers will be very well deserved afterwards! We'll spend one night in a hill tribe village homestay so that you can experience what life is like for the many traditional hill tribes of Northern Thailand, You'll see their lives have not changed a huge amount for generations. Fall asleep to the sound of local wildlife, an experience in itself.

After a night of blissful dreaming, we head back to Chiang Mai.. via bamboo raft. Yeah, you heard us a BAMBOO RAFT. Sail with the wind in your hair before we stop off for a dip at a local waterfall. Freshen up in the clear waters after an insightful evening with the hill tribe, dry off and we're on our way back to Chiang Mai! Today's also the day we will get to see some Elephants! We're to visit an elephant sanctuary here in Chiang Mai, animal welfare is extremely close to our hearts, and we visit a dedicated elephant rehabilitation sanctuary. The elephants here are free to roam and not here for the entertainment of tourists. We visit to educate ourselves on one of Thailand's most popular native animals but to also redistribute funds to programmes that do good. This is a once in a lifetime experience, a memory you'll cherish forever, no doubt!

It's time to get your adrenaline pumping as we head to the jungle to spend the morning zip-lining! Fly from platform to platform through the canopy of the jungle up to 50m above the ground, throw in some rope bridges and a few abseils. You'll experience the jungle in an entirely different (and much faster) way than walking through it at ground level. You can thank us later, once you've made all your friends and fam jealous, obvs. This is truly an unforgettable experience! *Just don't look down!*

After an excting few days this morning you'll have the chance to chill, read a book, grab a cocktail, do whatever floats your boat! In the afternoon, grab your bags because we will hop on a bus to the hippie town of Pai! Just 3 hours outside of Chiang Mai, a very popular backpacker destination, and we can see why! Filled with cool retro bars, market stalls, excellent food and wonderful people from all walks of life. Ahh, the life of Pai (sorry we had to!).

Day trippin' time! Today we'll head out to see some of Pai's highlights, and it's surrounding areas! Starting at the biggest cave in Thailand, Lod cave, we'll hike through the main chambers and then take a bamboo raft along the river which runs through the cave (depending on season and accessibility). It's like something out of a movie, incredible stuff! It's now time to give your muscles a break, as we head to the hot springs which are situated in the jungle and are heated by geothermal activity. Take a dip in the crystal clear water, treat yourself to a clay mask and just have the ultimate relaxation session in the warm temperatures. We'll then head to the waterfall nearby with an amazing view! Who needs a waterpark when we have one better, a waterfall with a natural slide! We'll finish this incredible day at Pai Canyon which means even more amazing views of the surrounding mountains and jungle, and even better, we'll be there at sunset! So take yo' pics and take in the insane view before heading back to Pai town. In the evening we'll head to a nice restaurant and a few chilled bars where we can mingle with other backpackers too. After all, we deserve it after the day of sightseeing we've had!

Chill day lets goooo! After a bit of a lie-in, relax by the pool, spend your day lounging around, or annoying your fellow TruFam to play eye spy with you. The choice is yours. Once we've had our relaxation fill, we'll head for dinner and drinks and see where the night takes us.

This morning it's time to head back to Chiang Mai! We hope you're ready to become the new Thai Masterchef as we are off to a cooking school to learn about some of Thailand's traditional dishes and then have a go at making them ourselves! Most of Thailand's delicious food comes from the North, so there's no better way than to learn from the masters themselves, right? First, we'll head to the market where our guides and teachers will show us how to select the freshest & tastiest ingredients, they have that insider knowledge ya feel? Now it's time for us to turn those ingredients we picked into some tasty meals! Don't fret, you'll be shown how to cook the recipes step by step! Now for the best bit, tasting what you've cooked, so make sure you're paying attention when cooking! An amazing experience, and you'll get to go home with new recipes and new skills! Winner winner chicken dinner (Quorn if your veggie)!

So we all know the Grand Canyon but do you know of Chiang Mai's very own Grand Canyon? Well, if not, don't worry as you'll get to know! This is an old excavation site, where they would dig out sand for building etc. However, now it is a man-made lagoon which has turned into an adult playground, we LOVE to see it! There are countless slides, floating chairs to lay in, tubes and then for the brave-hearted.. have a go at cliff jumping, deep water soloing or climbing on their climbing wall. Take yo' pick! There's a restaurant there on-site, so we can grab our lunch, refresh and energise ourselves! In the evening, we head out into Chiang Mai for more dinner and drinks!

Today is a travel day if you're on the 14 Northern Thailand Adventure tour only, it's here we part ways. We promise we don't normally cry.. BIG HUGS TRUFAM! For the rest of you legends carrying on for the next 10 days, today we have some free time in Chiang Mai to explore before jumping on the night train back to Bangkok before we're heading south south south!

We're CRUISINGGG… They see me rolling… We're sightseeing the capital by water! We travel by longtail boat along the Chao Phraya River. The best way to explore to Bangkok and experience some of Thailand's heritage. We're heading to two prestigious temples - Wat Arun and Wat Pho! You'll get to see the famous, super impressive giant golden reclining Buddha statue. Wat Pho real?! You got it! The rest of the day is for you to explore, grab a massage, overindulge on some delicious street food or hit up the markets for a spot of shopping. Have you even visited Thailand if you don't own a pair of elephant pants? In the evening, we meet for dinner and drinks and see where the night takes us!

Relax this morning, nurse that hangover. How you ask? Well, we're going for a traditional Thai Massage! Destress, get rid of all those knots from sleeping uncomfortably on the plane and melt away all of life's worries. We travel overnight on the train down south where we swap the hustle and bustle of city life in Bangkok for the tranquil lakes of stunning Khao Sok National Park - situated in the Surat Thani Province of Thailand. The overnight train is one of the best ways to travel in Thailand and is an experience in itself! *No snorer's allowed*

Today we're up and out, we take a longtail boat out to our very own floating bungalows. Yeah, we're fancy. Khao Sok is known for its beauty, and our accommodation will not disappoint! On the way, we cool off with a quick dip and dive in. When we arrive, try out a spot of kayaking, relax, you're in paradise. Sit back with a beer in a giant rubber tube. You're in amongst a limestone mountain range, floating in a freshwater lake surrounded by rainforest. Is this real? Are we in Jurassic Park? It sure damn looks like it. Minus the dinosaurs obvs.

We're up and enjoying a spot of breakfast before we head to Koh Phangan. Koh Phan - waaaaaat! Koh Phangan baby! And boy, have we got a day ahead for you! The ultimate TruExclusive! You won't get this shiz anywhere else. We're taking you to Bottle beach where we'll spend the night! A hidden gem in Thailand, it's quiet, It's beautiful and only accessible by boat. The island is pretty remote, so don't be surprised if we have the place to ourselves! We stay in beach huts with the ocean at our doorstep. Complete and utter bliss. Relax here for the rest of the afternoon, gallivant around in the sea, or challenge the rest of the TruCrew to the ultimate game of beach volleyball. Whatever you fancy doing, it's your day. Our only advice, don't forget to slap on some sun cream! It gets hot! In the evening, we enjoy dinner together. Cocktails are flowing, the suns going down as we sit on the beach..campfire lit. Can this get any better? Yes! We have our very own private fire show! It's getting hot in here, baby!

Wake up to the calming sounds of the waves rolling in onto the beach. Are you dreaming? Nope! This is your reality. Wake up in paradise, the morning is free to spend as you please. Grab a kayak and get out on the water, top up that already golden tan or trek to the local viewpoint. Hey if you want a lazy morning and lay in, do that instead catch up on some zzz's. In the afternoon, we are collected and taken to a local gym to try our hand at Muay Thai boxing. Thailand's national sport. You might not be a natural, but you'll deffo learn a thing or two! We then head to our next accommodation. A beach hostel where we'll spend the next 2 nights. If you fancy a few evening drinks, your travel Ninja is there to take you out and show you the coolest bars in Haad Rin. They're in the know.. Ya know?

Time to set off on a voyage around Koh Phangan! Grab a welcome drink as we board the boat, and the music starts playing as we set off to explore the island. We know we know, we travel in style. Throughout the day we'll stop off, grab the snorkels and mask and dive it! Thailand marine life is out of this world, so snorkelling is a must-do! We'll check out some of the best beaches on the island. Play our favourite beach game of volleyball, take a dip in the sea or tackle a human pyramid on the sand with your TruFam. Whatever you fancy. In the evening, we head back to our hotel to chill out by the pool before freshening up for a fun night out. Yes, we said it we're going out OUT!

Are you ready for the best day of your life? Well, you better get some zzz's in because tonight we're going big, like BIG BIG! Today we're taking a dip in Thailand's aqua water. We're going on an epic island road trip and we will see some incredible waterfalls, beaches and viewpoints on the way - get your cameras ready! In the evening, we'll meet in our hostel for the ultimate UV painting session to get us ready for The Full Moon Party. It's legendary, it's spectacular, and you couldn't be with a better crew. TruCrew that is. We take you to all the best pre-drinking spots before hitting up The Full Moon Party. If you're hardcore enough to make it to sunrise (It's the best part) join us at the after-party which starts at 6am. You know the old saying.. No rest for the wicked aye?

*Please note, The Full Moon Party is on a specific date each month so our activities can sometimes shuffle around, but don't stress, you won't miss anything!*

It's been a wild few days and today is set aside for recovery. Chill, recharge, rehydrate. It was a big night, so the only thing we have planned today is a relaxing Thai massage and possibly winding down in the evening with a film at a local bar. If you were one of the crazy 10/10 party animals who only just made it in for breakfast, spend the day in bed, catch up on some sleep or grab an amazing 7/11 toastie. The ultimate hangover cure. However, you're feeling we've got options for you!

It's our least favourite day of the tour. The day we say goodbye. We don't want you guys to leave. Spend the morning having a chilled one before check out. Whether you need to sort a lift to the airport or just need one last group hug our Travel Ninja is there for you. It's been a wild 23 days TruFam. Will we see each other again? Of course, we're family now.